Now that the Christina School Board has approved a partnership agreement with Gov. John Carney, the district can begin to plan for the future and plot out what education in Wilmington will look like going forward.

State, board have a deal in 'memorandum of understanding' to consolidate and improve Christina School District's Wilmington schools. Next up: figuring out the details.
William Bretzger/The News Journal

Buy Photo

Elbert-Palmer Elementary was shuttered in 1981, then reopened to help deal with extreme enrollment growth at the Christina School District. The district tried to close it again in 2007, but was sued for violating the Neighborhood Schools Act.(Photo: SUCHAT PEDERSON/THE NEWS JOURNAL)Buy Photo

Now that the Christina School Board has approved a partnership agreement with Gov. John Carney, the district can begin to plan for the future and plot out what education in Wilmington will look like going forward.

The transition will take about three years, but on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, Supt. Richard Gregg laid out in broad terms what would happen if the memorandum of understanding was approved.

The plan includes closing two schools — Elbert-Palmer and Pulaski Elementary schools — and creating a dual generation center at Stubbs Elementary School. Both Bancroft Elementary and Bayard Middle schools will likely house grades one through eight, while kindergartners will move to what is currently Stubbs.

Aspects of the plan are subject to change, and two K-8 schools are still possible. Reconfiguring the schools remains contingent on the General Assembly approving $15 million in renovation costs. The state would pay for 80 percent of the reconfiguration and the district would pay for 20 percent, which could mean a referendum for the Christina School District sometime in the near future.

Early head start programming begins at the new Dual Generation Center at Stubbs

Story continues below document.

Staffing

Gregg also laid out very basic guidelines for staffing. Any plans will have to be approved by the district's union, the Christina Education Association, but here are some highlights:

Start recruiting and hiring staff early, in the spring

Have staff in the new Wilmington schools commit to three years

In 2018-19, hire instructional coaches for Elbert-Palmer and Pulaski Elementary schools, while maintaining those positions at the other Wilmington schools

In 2019-20, place math and reading instructional coaches at Bancroft and Bayard, as well as reading specialists

Staff the new schools at a ratio of 1 teacher to 15-18 students in grades kindergarten through second grade. Grades 3-8 would be staffed similarly to how they are now

Buy Photo

Bancroft Elementary.(Photo: KYLE GRANTHAM/THE NEWS JOURNAL)

To create smaller class sizes in kindergarten, first and second grade will cost about $800,000, Gregg said. Preliminary plans also call for librarians, art, choir and band teachers at both Bancroft and Bayard, as well as teachers for courses such as family and consumer sciences, computer technology, agriculture and allied health. Gregg also talked about offering foreign language classes such as Spanish and French at the new schools.

Story continues below document.

What else?

One lingering question is what will happen to Pulaski and Elbert-Palmer.

Carney, responding to concerns they would be turned into charter schools, said Tuesday that was not his intention and that he would support legislation to prevent that from happening.

The governor said he has talked to the University of Delaware about offering childhood development services at one of the schools and has talked to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware about offering community-based programming at the other.

“Our goal is to bring more investment, not less, into these buildings," he said.

It has also been proposed classes at the new schools start later in the morning, to help address chronic absenteeism, among other things. Middle and high school should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., says the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in a position statement.

The school day and year could also be extended to offer kids more instructional time. Other things being considered include:

Attractive extra-curricular activities that meet the varied needs of students